Biscay: North Sea, France, Spain, Portugal to Gibraltar
Channel Islands, France, and west coast Iberia, Lisbon and onto Gibraltar.
This near coastline is full of interesting gems.
Cruising can be so close, west coast France, Spain and Portugal.
FRANCE
This is an interesting coast of France, very different from the south of France. It has many WWII sites and many memories. It is often better known to booze cruisers and weekenders as they pop over, have mussels and chips and stock up with wine. But for cruisers, this section of cruising, takes us from the UK south. The Bay of Biscay (other wise known as the Golfe de Gascogne in France) makes many a cruise smile, and check they have packed their sea sickness bands. It starts in France and rounds to Spain, joining the Channel (via the Celtic Sea) with the North Atlantic Ocean and down to Spain’s Cantabrian Sea.
Arrondissement de Lorient
heavy intensity rain
6.4
°
C
7.7
°
6.1
°
92 %
2.6kmh
75 %
Wed
11
°
Thu
10
°
Fri
14
°
Sat
13
°
Sun
15
°
The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.
Tours available in Lorient
As always tours and their description show what the locals are proud of and wish to show.
La Rochelle
few clouds
7.6
°
C
8
°
5.7
°
94 %
3.6kmh
20 %
Wed
12
°
Thu
12
°
Fri
15
°
Sat
15
°
Sun
15
°
The Scarlet Tunic
The Scarlet Tunic is a feature film based on a Thomas Hardy short story and shot on location in Bridport, Dorset.
Kotor in Montenegro is more like a Fjord than an Adriatic beach
Kotor will surprise you, because whatever you are expecting it will not be a Fjord with an hour long sail in. The UNESCO World Heritage site
Adriatic 7-Day Cruise – Rome to Trieste on the Queen Victoria
The middle and eastern Mediterranean form our favourite cruise area. Here, the sea is normally favourable, the weather good,
Fregene – Rome’s Beach and the resaurant di Stanley Tucci
Rome has a port – Civitavecchia, it also has a beach – Fregene, and that is where we found Stanley Tucci.
Exploring Stratford: Where Shakespeare’s Story Comes Alive
William Shakespeare’s Stratford-On-Avon is a wonderful day out, and Jean and Stuart spend the day there.
Comedy Kia Niro Reversing Camera Repair – and Camera Cleaner Upgrade that saves enough for a two week Caribbean cruise
Comedy Kia Niro Reversing Camera Repair – and Camera Cleaner Upgrade. A repair that saves over a thousand pounds
Bordeaux
scattered clouds
6.2
°
C
6.3
°
6.2
°
93 %
4.1kmh
45 %
Wed
12
°
Thu
12
°
Fri
12
°
Sat
16
°
Sun
13
°
The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.
Tours available in Bordeaux include Wine Tours by Bicycle!
Bordeaux, in France, is famous for wine. The historic streets are used as Paris in period films.
This area has been inhabited since the old stone age, or Middle Palaeolithic period, which broadly means dating back to 300,000 years ago. It has subsequently changed hands with whatever roving power including the Romans. From Basque Spain, through the autonomous community of Asturias to Galicia which borders Portugal. Historic sites, major maritime and fishing history, and wine.
Bilbao
overcast clouds
7.8
°
C
9
°
5.7
°
80 %
2.1kmh
100 %
Wed
12
°
Thu
11
°
Fri
12
°
Sat
17
°
Sun
13
°
The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.
GREETER – the people who love to show you their city.
What is GREETER? Simply, it is an organisation of wonderful people who will greet you in their own town, city, or port.
Avilés
clear sky
8.5
°
C
9.4
°
8.2
°
73 %
4.6kmh
0 %
Wed
13
°
Thu
12
°
Fri
18
°
Sat
17
°
Sun
12
°
A Coruña
scattered clouds
6.6
°
C
8
°
5.8
°
95 %
2.1kmh
40 %
Wed
13
°
Thu
13
°
Fri
17
°
Sat
16
°
Sun
16
°
The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.
La Coruña Guide – a popular cruise port near home
La Coruna is an increasingly popular staging post for ships leaving the UK on the way to the Mediterranean,
Tours available in La Coruna
Tours and their description show what the locals are proud of and wish to show.
El Ferrol
scattered clouds
7.1
°
C
7.1
°
7.1
°
92 %
2.7kmh
27 %
Wed
12
°
Thu
12
°
Fri
17
°
Sat
17
°
Sun
15
°
Gijón
overcast clouds
9.2
°
C
9.4
°
8.2
°
73 %
1.3kmh
99 %
Wed
13
°
Thu
11
°
Fri
18
°
Sat
17
°
Sun
12
°
P&O Ventura summer 2024 – Spain, Portugal and the Canaries – tips on the ports & how it works
The Ventura is a fantastic no-fly Grand Class ship based for much of her year, including summer 2024, running a mix of cruises from short 4 day cruises to two week cruises.
The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.
Gijón
overcast clouds
9.2
°
C
9.4
°
8.2
°
73 %
1.3kmh
99 %
Wed
13
°
Thu
11
°
Fri
18
°
Sat
17
°
Sun
12
°
P&O Ventura summer 2024 – Spain, Portugal and the Canaries – tips on the ports & how it works
The Ventura is a fantastic no-fly Grand Class ship based for much of her year, including summer 2024, running a mix of cruises from short 4 day cruises to two week cruises.
The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.
Vigo
fog
8
°
C
8
°
6.1
°
88 %
2.6kmh
75 %
Wed
13
°
Thu
14
°
Fri
16
°
Sat
16
°
Sun
15
°
The Scarlet Tunic
The Scarlet Tunic is a feature film based on a Thomas Hardy short story and shot on location in Bridport, Dorset.
Kotor in Montenegro is more like a Fjord than an Adriatic beach
Kotor will surprise you, because whatever you are expecting it will not be a Fjord with an hour long sail in. The UNESCO World Heritage site
Adriatic 7-Day Cruise – Rome to Trieste on the Queen Victoria
The middle and eastern Mediterranean form our favourite cruise area. Here, the sea is normally favourable, the weather good,
Fregene – Rome’s Beach and the resaurant di Stanley Tucci
Rome has a port – Civitavecchia, it also has a beach – Fregene, and that is where we found Stanley Tucci.
Exploring Stratford: Where Shakespeare’s Story Comes Alive
William Shakespeare’s Stratford-On-Avon is a wonderful day out, and Jean and Stuart spend the day there.
Comedy Kia Niro Reversing Camera Repair – and Camera Cleaner Upgrade that saves enough for a two week Caribbean cruise
Comedy Kia Niro Reversing Camera Repair – and Camera Cleaner Upgrade. A repair that saves over a thousand pounds
Cadiz
light rain
8.8
°
C
8.8
°
8.8
°
93 %
7.8kmh
99 %
Wed
14
°
Thu
15
°
Fri
17
°
Sat
19
°
Sun
14
°
Cadiz Guide
Cadiz does deserve the label historic Cadiz because Cadiz dates back to the 12th century BC
Tours available in Cadiz
Tours and their description show what the locals are proud of and wish to show in the wonderful city of Cadiz.
Seville – Oranges and Opera or Muslims and Christians
Seville is about the same distance from CADIZ as it is HUELVA, two very
Museo del Titere – The Puppet Master of CADIZ – Francisco Peralta
This is the hidden gem of Cadiz.
It is one of the oldest and certainly the westernmost sovereign state of mainland Europe, almost all of it sitting on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. It’s important position means it has been fought over since pre-historic times. There is much opportunity to see historic sites all along this coast. Lisbon being the number one stop, is built on seven hills, but so cruiser heavy the locals are sometimes a little miffed they can’t get on a tram. See the various posts and films for what to see. The daily transport ticket is often the best deal in town.
Porto
few clouds
5.7
°
C
5.7
°
5.7
°
100 %
2.6kmh
20 %
Wed
13
°
Thu
14
°
Fri
16
°
Sat
16
°
Sun
15
°
BRIEF: Known both as Oporto and Porto, it is Portugal’s second largest city.
CURRENCY: Euro
SHIPS HERE inc: Neue Mein Schiff 2, AIDAPerla, Silver Wind, mv Aegean Odyssey, Oceana Riviera
Lisbon
few clouds
10.9
°
C
12
°
10.3
°
80 %
4.5kmh
20 %
Wed
15
°
Thu
16
°
Fri
18
°
Sat
18
°
Sun
14
°
- BRIEF: Lisbon. Major City. Tourism and fishing are the main trades.
- CURRENCY: Euro. Many places are card only.
- LANGUAGE/PHRASES: Portugese. English spoken
- VISA: Entry with cruise card.
- SHIPS SEEN HERE REGULARLY: All, but SAGA, Cunard, Azamara and P&O are amongst many.
- Tourist attractions. Squares. Hill, castle. Time Out Market. Queluz Palace.
The Bay Of Biscay area explained – cruise ships do go there.
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. It is located south of the Celtic Sea, along the western coast of France.
Tours available in Lisbon
Tours and their description show what the locals are proud of and wish to show.
LISBON trip to QUELUZ PALACE – by Train
Lisbon is a cruise port many regular sailors will visit over and over again, and whilst it has much to see, there are some adventures you may not have considered. Queluz Palace
Time Out Market Lisbon
The Time Out Market is a food and drink heaven. It is a grand food hall
Lisbon 2024. – Tarts, forts, a palace, a pop star, a tram, and the Time Out restaurant.
Lisbon is the richest region of Portugal. It has a palace that tells the story of the Redeemer statue in Rio, and a huge Time Out restaurant.
Lisbon Christmas Market in Baixa-Chiado then Gary Barlow in Concert on ship
The Baixa-Chiado Lisbon Christmas Market normally opens early, around mid November
Portimão
few clouds
12.3
°
C
12.3
°
12.3
°
73 %
8.3kmh
19 %
Wed
16
°
Thu
17
°
Fri
18
°
Sat
19
°
Sun
14
°
- BRIEF: Fishing is a main activity here.Artistes and writers as well as beach lovers flock to Praia da Rocha.
- CURRENCY: Euro
- LANGUAGE/PHRASES: Portugese. English spoken
- VISA: Entry with cruise card.
- SHIPS SEEN HERE REGULARLY: Seabourn Encore, Marella Discovery 2.
